Lens qrinding and polishing machine



.11 J. BAUSCH mus GRINDING AND, POLISHING momma Filed Aug. 6, 1 921 :5 Sheets-Shet INVENTO o oZezz ([5 a %z;sATT0RNEY J. J. BAUSCH LENS GRINDING AND PQLISHING MACQINE Dec. 10, 1929.

F'ilgd Aug. 6, 1921 :s sheets shet 2 1 .AW E

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U52; (ZEM ZZ%E E %z.'sA TTORNEY I Patented Dee 19, 1229 JOHN J. BAUSCH, OF ROCHESTER, NEV] YORK, As lG-NOR TO BAUSCI-I AND LOMB OPTICAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEVJ YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LENS GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE Application filed August 6,

This invention has to do with apparatus for grinding and polishing lenses, one objectbeing to provide a machine of this variety with efficient tool supporting means of a conveniently adjustable character for disposing the tool in a wide range of positions relative to the lens holder.

Another object is to provide tool supporting means constructed and adapted to facilitate the use of a plurality of tools, either one at a time, or simultaneously, as for example, in the manufacture of bifocal lenses, together with means for retaining one or more of the tools in a position spaced from the lens holder when not in use or for facilitating inspection or replacement of the tools or work. Another object is to provide convenient and effective driving means for the tool accommodating adjustments of the above character. To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as willbe hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the present invent-ion.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same. Figure?) is a side elevation. Figure 1 is an enlarged detail sectiona view on the line4 1 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a similar sectional View on the line 55 of Fi ure 4:.

Figure 6 is a similar sectional View on the line 66 of Figure 2 showing the parts in a different position.

Figure 7 is asimilar sectional View on the line 7 7 of Figure 2, and i Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 -8 of Figure 7. 7

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The embodiment of the invention at pres ent preferred and disclosed herein by way of illustration comprises a main frame indicated generally at 10, Figure 1, having an upstanding, hollow, column portion 11 in which is journaled in any suitable manner a vertical spindle 12 on the upper end 13 of which is 1921. Serial No. 430,220.

detachably fitted a lens holder 14 to which is cemented a lens 15, this construction and arrangement being Well understood in the art and requiring no detailed description. The lens holder spindle has preferably fixed thereon adjacent its lower end a grooved pulley 16 and the frame is cut away on opposite sides as at 17 for the application of a driving belt to the lens holder spindle from either side of themachine. The frame is shown as mounted on a bench or table 18.

The frame is provided with means for adjust-ably supporting a pair of tool spindles either of which may be brought from an inoperative position into cooperation with the lens holder so that the tools may be employed individually or may be used simultaneously as is desirable in the grinding of bifocal lenses. To this end column 11 of the frame has fixed thereon and projecting laterally therefrom at opposite sides brackets 19 and 20 having adjustably mounted thereon movably connected parts which support the tool spindles for adjustment to different operating positions relative to the lens holder, and as the part-s for supporting each tool are substantially the same a description of the supporting means for one tool will apply to both.

Bracket 19 has its outer end formed in the and is provided with an operating head 26 by rotation of which the inner end of the set screw may be moved toward or from the lens holder in contact with lever 22 for adjusting the position of the latter, the lever of course being held in contact with the stop or set screw by spring 23. A look nut 27 maybe provided on the screw to hold it securely 1n adjusted position.

The upper end of lever 22 is formed with sp 28 n vhieh a i iree e l'tae ends of a shaft 29 having fixed thereon, Figure 2, a sleeve 30 carrying spaced arms 31. The outer ends of these arms have fixed therein the ends of the shatt 32 on which is pivot- 5 ally supported a part, or lever 33, in a bearing 34- at the inner end of which the tube spindle is rotatably supported. The spindle is shown at 35, Figure l, as extending below lever 38 and provided at its lower end with a si'ibstantially spherical portion 36 loosely engaging a recess in the tool 37, The portion 36 is flattened on one or more sides and the recess with which it engages in the tool correspondingly shaped so that rotation of the spindle positively rotates the tool, while the latter,-hewever,is loosely cminected with the spindle so that its grinding or polishing surface may conform at all times to the surface of the worln The tool shown in ''the present in" ance is of the ring type having perip-l-ie, grinding or polishing annulus 38 and arecessed interior portion 39, as well understood in the art.

Lever has'iixeo on the under side of inner end a'block 40", the lever and block being recessed to form a-housing in which is a spiral gear l1- lixe'd on the tool spindle and meshing with corresponding gear 42 fixed on sha lft journal'ed in the lever and ro- 'tatedby suitable d iving means hereinafter described for driving the tool spindle.

The lens shown in the present ii" of the bilocal type having an outer portion and a central reading p the tool being a? nged in the present i stance for rinding or polishing the real;

f ortion.

' the are provided as l. v 1

tion of either or s1 *Jiul op rte-l: the axis V be adj -.i v i ls 47, are 1, c rnnected at one e: l8 fixed on the outer end or tail the other end of the spring to a web integrally connect 1 31. 33 also cairi'es a sto This end of leior set screw in position for engagement of its end with web iortion &9 of the n 31. Spring 47 holds the set screw of the leve in Contact with the arm so that by adjustnien;

of the set screw the lever may be adjusted on its pivot and a corresponding angular adjustment oi the axis of the tool spindle obtained. It is apparent from this construction that by the adjustment of set screw 50 to effect relative adjustment between the axes of rotation of the spindle and lens holder and also the adjustment of set screw 2% for moving the tool spindle substantially transversely of the axis of the lens holder, the spindle may be given any desired position relative to the latter, including, for example, the arrangement of the tool spindle with its axis passing through the center oi curvature of a lens surface under treatment.

lVhen it is desired to render one of the tools inoperative or to inspect or remove the tools or work, the arms 31 may be swung about shaft 29 as a pivot to the position shown in Figure 6. For holding a tool spindle in such out-ot-the-way position spaced: from the tool holder there is provided on lever 22 aleaf spring 51 with which engages a beveled lug,

52 fixed on sleeve 30 of the arms=31. VVl-ien the latter are moved upwardly to the position described these parts form a yieldable detent For holding the tools against the work with the pressure desired to accomplish the grinding or polishing operation, there is fixed to the web portion 49 of the arms 31 a cord or other flexible connection 53 extending downwardly below the support or table 18 and carrying at its lower end a weight 5%;

This gravity means for pressing the tool toward its work is thus so disposed as to be out of the way but is nevertheless constantly connected with its tool by means accommodating the adjusting movement of the latter and also its movement to the spaced position described. V v

The present invention embodies also an advantageousdriving means for the tool spindles comprising for each spindle a rotary driving element such, for example; as a pulley, in relatively fixed location on the frame and connected by flexible and detachable means with the tool spindle so that the adjusting movements of the latter are not in-.

terfered with and the spindle may be conveniently disconnected from its driv-ing means and moved to the spaced position described. This means comprises preferably a sleeve 55, Figures 2 and 5, fixed on the end of the shaft 43 and having in its opposite sides longitudinal recesses or slots 56 extending inwardly from the end of the sleeve and terminating in'enlarged recesses 57. The bore of the sleeve receives a ball like end 58 of a rod or shaft 59 of less diameter than the sleeve bore, and end 58 of the shaft is provided with I transverselyextending pins 60 which are re ceived in the slots 56 and recesses 57. This construction provides a simple form of universal joint between the driving rod or shaft 59. andv the tool spindle, it being apparent that during rotation of shaft 59 the pins 6U thereof engage and rotate sleeve 55, being in engaged relation by the shoulders of recess 57. Vhen the parts are stationary,however, pins 60 may be brought to registry with slots 56 in the sleeve and shaft 59 withdrawn from the sleeve, thus detaching the driving connection from the spindle. Shaft 59 at its opposite end is provided with a similar spherical end 61 received in the end of a sleeve 62 fixed in a sleeve 63 rotatably carried in a bearing e4. on an arm 65 extending upwardly from the frame. Sleeve 62 has extending inwardly thereof from its end opposite longitudinal recesses or slots 66 in which are d the ends of transversepins 67 carried by shaft the pins being prevented from removal from the slots by a flange 68 on a collar 69 fixed on sleeve 63. A washer 70 is interposed be tween collar 69 and bearing 64, andthe other end of sleeve 63 has fixed thereon a driving pulley 71 with which adriving belt for the tool spindle may be engaged. Driving shaft 59 is thus also connected with the rotary element or pulley 71 on the frame bymeans of a universal joint permitting the adjustment of the tool spindle as already described. As shown in the drawings similar driving means are provided for the other tool spindles.

In operation, with the tool spindles in the spaced or out-of-the-way position described, the lens to be ground is attached to its holder and mounted on the upper end of spindle 12. One or more of the tool spindles is then moved to position above the'lens and provided with the proper tools. By adjusting set screws 24 and 59 the tool is moved to the desired operating position on the lens and the'tool spindle adjusted to the proper angle relative to the axis of the lens holder. The driving means for the tool spindles are then connected with the latter by placing the free end of each shaft 59 in its sleeve 55 and the belts for driving the lens holder and spindles then put in motion to effect the grinding or polishing of the lens. The tools may be coni veniently adjusted by means described during the operation of the machine and when it is desired to inspect the work or the tool or to remove either, pulleys 7 1 are stopped and shafts 59 disconnected from the tool spindles after which the latter maybe swung upwardly and away from the lens holder to the position indicated in Figure 6. The machine is thus provided with convenient means for adjusting the tools through the desired range of operating positions and for moving the same to and from inoperative position dles are separately driven as is desirable for I effecting variation in their relative speeds and the tool spindles are driven by a simple and effective device conveniently disposed at the back of the machine and so constructed as to accommodate the adjustment of the and that various other changes maybe made in the details of the construction and operation of themachine within the-scope of the appended claims. 1

I claim as my invention:

1. in a lens grinding machine, the 'combi-.

nation with a frame and arotary lens holder thereon, of a part movably supported on the frame, a tool spindle and a driving shaft for the latter rotatably carriedby said part, a driving connection between said spindle and shaft, a pulley rotatably carried on the frame, the movement of said part on the frame permitting adj ustment' of said spindle to different operating-positions relative to said lens holder and also to and from an out-ofthe-way position spaced a substantial di tance from the lens holder movement to and from said out-of-the-way position being in the direction of a plane substantially transverse to the axis of said pulley and of said driving shaft, and a rod connected at its respective ends with said pulley and shaft by universal joints one of which is detachable to permit movement of the tool spindle to said out-of-the-way position. I y

2. In a lens grinding machinev the combination of an upright framemember, a revoluble lens spindle mounted thereon, an arm extending laterally from the frame member, an upstanding member adjustably pivoted on the outer end of said arm, a horizontally disposed member pivoted upon said upstanding member above said arm, a lever pivoted intermediate-its ends uponsaid horizontally disposedmember, adjusting means for said leverspaced-outwardly from the pivotal axis thereof, a tool spindle journaled upon the inner end of said lever, a shaft journaled in saidlever and operatively connected with the tool spindle intermediate its ends and driving means for said shaft.

'3. In a lens grinding machine the combination of a frame, a revoluble lens spindle mounted therein, a support pivotally connected with the frame, a horizontally disposed 7 lever pivoted intermediate its ends upon the support, means adjustably connecting the outer end of the lever with an intermediate portion of the support, a tool spindle journalled in the other end of the lever, a shaft journalled upon the lever and operatively connected with the tool spindle, means whereby the support is mounted for adjustment toward and from the axis of the lens holder,

and means for driving said shaft and said.

lens spindle.

4. In a lens grinding machine'the combination of a frame, a revoluble lens spindle mounted thereon, an arm pivotally connected with the frame, a lever pivoted intermediate it-s ends upon said arm and having its outer end terminating intermediate the ends of the arm, means yieldably connecting the outer end of the lever with the arm, means for adjusting the lever upon the arm, a tool spindle j ournalled upon the inner end of the lever, a shaft journalled upon the in ner end of the lever and operatively connected with the spindle, and means for driving said shaft and said lens spindle.

5. In a lens grinding machine, the combination of a. frame and a rotary lens holding member thereon, a support on the frame, a vertically disposed member adjustable upon the support for movement toward the lens holding member, a pair of inner and outer substantially horizontal members, said inner member being pivoted intermediate its ends on the outer member and the latter being pivoted upon the vertically disposed mem-- ber, means adjustably connecting the inner and outer members intermediate the ends of the latter, yieldable means for holding said horizontally disposed members in adjusted position, a tool spindle ournaled on the inner end of said inner member and means for driving said spindle.

6. In a lens grinding machine, the combination of a frame and a rotary lens holding same, means yieldably holding said members I in. adjusted position and means for driving said spindle.

7. In a lens grinding machine, the combination of a frame and a rotary lens holding member thereon, a support on the frame, an

upstanding member adjustable uponthe' support toward and from the lens holding member, a pair of inner and outer substantiallyhorizontal members, said inner memberbeing pivoted intermediate its ends upon the outer member and the latter being pivoted upon the upstanding member, means connecting the outer end'of the inner member with an intermediate portion of the outer member arranged to permit adjustment of said members during operation of the machine, a tool spindle journaled upon the inner member and adapted to overlie the lens holder, a shaft journaled in the inner member and adapted to drive the spindle and means for exerting downward pressure on said inner and outer members during operation of the spindle.

8. In a lens grinding machine, the combination of a frame and a rotary lens holder thereon, a member pivotally connected with the frame and adustable for bodily movement transversely of the axis of the lens holder, a second member pivoted to swing upon the first, means spaced from the pivotal axis of the second member for adjusting itupon said first member, a toolspindle journaled in spaced bearings upon said second member, a gear on said spindle between said bearings, a shaft. journaled in spaced bearings upon said second member and having a gear between said bearings meshing with the first mentioned gear and a flexible drive connection detachably engaging said shaft.

9. In a lens grinding machine, the combination of a frame, a rotary lens holder t ing member adj ustable' upon the support toward and from the lens holder and having spaced bearings thereon, asubstantially horizontal arm having its outer end pivoted upon said bearings and provided with spaced bearings at its inner end, a lever pivotally sup.

ported intermediate its ends by the last men tioned bearings, a tool spindle journaled in the inner end of the lever, means adjustably connecting the outer end of theleverwith the arm and means for driving the tool spindle.

JOHN J. BAUSCH.

hereon, a support on the frame, an upstand-. 

